Pneumatic tire.



No. 652,890. Patented July 3, I900.

G. H-. CLARK.

PNEUMATIC TIBE.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARK CYCLE TIRECOMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 652,890, dated July 3,1900. Application filed November 13, 1899. Serial No. 736,764. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GEORGE I-I. CLARK, of' Boston, county of Suffolk,and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin PneumaticTires, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

In United States Patent No. 623,376, dated April 18,1899,apneumatic'wheelrtire is shown havingasealed sack or pocket within itwhich contains a quantity of self-healing compound or material, saidsealed sack or pocket being employed as a valve for inflation, which ispierced by a tubular needle adapted to be connected with an air-forcingdevice whenever it is desired to inflate the tire, and when said needleis withdrawn the puncture produced by its insertion is automaticallysealed. When the tubular needle is thrust through the valve,it sometimeshappens that its point penetrates the air-tube opposite the valve, andthis invention has for its object to provide means whereby this troublemay be avoided; and to this end the invention consists in providing theair-t ube with a protecting-plate opposite the valve for inflation,against which the point of the tubular needle will strike if introducedtoo great a distance; also, I find in practice that in case the tireshown in said patent becomes deflated accidentally or otherwise and anyattempt is made to ride it when so deflated the valve for inflationbecomes severely compressed, and sometimes the compression is so greatas to burst the walls of the valve.

This invention also has for its object to provide means whereby thistrouble may be avoided; and it consists in producing within the tire arecess opposite the valve for inflation which is adapted to receive saidvalve when the tire is deflated. One way of producing said recessconsists in disposing within the tire--as,for instance, within theair-tube two projections, one at each side of the valve, which limit themovement of the walls of the tire toward each other.

The drawing shows in longitudinal vertical section a sufticient portionof a pneumatic tire embodying this invention to'illustrate the same.

In the tire which I have herein shown for the sake of illustrating mypresent invention, arepresents the air-tube, b and c the outer layers orwrappers thereon, and d the valve for inflation, which is represented asa sealed sack or pocket containing a quantity of selfhealing material orcompound. On the interior of the air-tube a a protecting-plate e isplaced,which is preferably a metallic plate of suitable shape and sizeto be applied to and also secured to the air-tube. This plate, as shownin the drawings, is located directly opposite the valve for inflationand serves as a means of preventing the air-tube from being punctured bythe tubular needle which is thrust through the valve to inflate ordeflate the tire. A copper plate I find in practice to be suitable forthis purpose, yet I intend to include within the spirit and scope ofthis invention any means located opposite the valve which is adapted toaccomplish this result.

f f represent two projectionslocatedashort distance apart and forming arecess between them of sufficient size to receive the valve (2 when thetire is deflated. These projections ff may be composed of small piecesof cork covered or coated with rubber, as herein shown, or they may bemade in any other suitable manner and they may be secured to theinterior of the air-tube. It will be seen that when the tire is deflatedmovement of the opposite walls of the tire toward each other is limitedby said project-ions f f, and also that a recess is formed between themof suitable size to receive the valve to protect it from unduecompression. practice that such means effectually accomplishes thedesired ends, yet I do not desire or intend to limit my invention in theparticular way herein shown for producing the recess, as it is obviousthat a recess for the valve may be formed or provided in many differentways which come within the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim 1. A pneumatic tire having a valve for inflation adapted to bepierced by a tubular needle and having a protecting-plate opposite saidvalve, substantially as described.

2. A pneumatic tire having a valve for in- While I find in flationadapted to be pierced by a tubular needle and having a protecting-platesecured to the inside of the air-tube opposite said Valve, substantiallyas described.

3. A pneumatic tire containing a valve for inflation and having avalve-receiying recess located opposite said valve, substantially asdescribed.

4. A pneumatic tire containing a valve for inflation and having avalve-receiving recess located opposite said valve formed by projectionswhich limit the movement of the 0pposite walls of the tire toward eachother,substantially as described.

5. Apneumatic tire having within it a valve for inflation andprojections in the air-tube opposite said valve which are located ashort distance apart and which limit the movement movement of the wallsof the tire toward each 25 other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE II. CLARK. \Vitnesses:

B. J. NOYEs, J. L. HUTCHINSON.

